SAGINAW, MI — Members of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO Local 54048, which represents WNEM TV-5 employees, have voted down the latest contract offer from the television station and are organizing a campaign to make the community and advertisers aware of the labor dispute, according to a news release.

The union represents 50 WNEM TV-5 employees, including
photographers, editors, directors, on-air talent and engineers, according to the release.

The television station, which serves Saginaw, Midland, Bay City and Flint, is owned
by Meredith Corp., a media company based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Negotiations for a new contract began nearly 18 months ago. The
current contract expires Sunday, Nov. 3, after having been extended
since April 30, the release states.

The union is preparing a corporate campaign aimed at making the community and WNEM advertisers fully aware of the labor dispute, the release states. The union also is calling on WNEM to negotiate in good faith for a contract that recognizes the contributions its members have made to the station's success.

— Heather Jordan covers business for MLive/The Saginaw News/Bay City Times. She can be reached at 989-450-2652 or hjordan@mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.